HARRISBURG — A special Pennsylvania court that enforces ethics rules for judges will determine whether Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin should be paid while she defends herself against criminal corruption charges.

The Court of Judicial Discipline was scheduled today to hear the case against Melvin, a justice from Pittsburgh’s suburbs. Her salary is $195,000 a year.

Melvin was charged May 18 with illegally using her taxpayer-funded Superior Court staff in her 2003 and 2009 campaigns for a seat on the state’s highest court. She has pleaded not guilty to charges filed by the Allegheny County district attorney’s office.

Melvin’s sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, went to prison earlier this month for her conviction for similarly misusing her legislative staff.